2024-08-12 22:46:43
NATO expert Stefanie Babst believes that the actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region were carefully planned and caught Putin’s army by surprise. Among the goals are named both to confirm the strength of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which has increased many times since the start of the full-scale war, and also to prevent gas transit through the Russian Federation to Europe.
She reported this in an interview with Bild.
The first goal of the offensive is to put pressure on Putin. Babst notes that, unlike Berlin and Washington, the Ukrainian military has understood the need to put Russia on the defensive as much as possible.
The second goal is the combat capability of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which is thus demonstrated to the West. The expert believes that with this offensive, Ukraine is trying to demonstrate its ability to put pressure on Russia. In her opinion, this will help convince Western allies to abandon restrictions on the use of transferred weapons systems.
In third place is the weakening of pressure from Russian troops in other areas of the front of the Russian-Ukrainian war. In the conditions of heavy fighting in Donbass and Kharkov, Russia will be forced to transfer part of its forces to protect the Kursk region, which could weaken its offensive in other directions.
Seizure of the Kursk NPP for the purpose of exchange and de-occupation of the Zaporizhzhya NPP. Although such assumptions circulate, Babst doubts that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are pursuing this goal, as it would be an extremely difficult military task.
In fifth place is a blow to Russian gas exports. The expert believes that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are most likely aiming to control the gas metering station in Sudzha, through which gas exports pass. Losing control over this facility would deal a serious blow to the Russian gas business.
Earlier, “Kursor” reported that Russian military personnel who may be involved in crimes against civilians in Bucha, Kyiv region, were detained in the Kursk region.